Nia Tero Foundation
Nia Tero Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Seattle, Washington, established in 2017 and tax-exempt since March 2018. The organization operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on conservation equity and environmental protection. The foundation's work centers on supporting Indigenous Peoples' guardianship of vital ecosystems globally.
Key facts about Nia Tero Foundation
- EIN
- 82-1949563
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,975,304
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- Average grant
- $159,012
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $80,555,234
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nia Tero Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Nia Tero Foundation's 25 itemized 2024 grants were California (50%), New York (22%) and Delaware (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Seattle, WA (3 grants), Brooklyn, NY (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). 4% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Indigenous Practice and Wisdom" (6 grants), "Support Indigenous Led Conservation Efforts" (3 grants) and "Support Indigenous Led Global Policy & Advocacy" (3 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.6M
-11.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+20.2% YoY
Grant Count
25
-35.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$159K
+87.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To directly support Indigenous Peoples' guardianship and elevate the role and influence of Indigenous Peoples as essential to ensuring planetary health and habitability.
Vision: Indigenous Peoples' guardianship is enabled everywhere possible on Earth as part of a just and vibrant future.
The foundation's core belief is that the governance systems and cultural wisdom sustained by Indigenous Peoples have significant impact on the health of ecosystems where they live. Funding Indigenous Peoples' guardianship of territories is identified as one of the most effective pathways for protecting Earth's most important ecosystems.
Primary Program Areas:
- Place-anchored partnerships with Indigenous Peoples in geographies central to global well-being
- Initial regional focus includes the Pacific Islands, Amazonia, and North America
- Work with Indigenous Peoples who share collective territories and have strong governance systems
- The Wayfinders Circle initiative, a fellowship of members from across seven socio-cultural regions
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$25,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Nia Tero Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's support helps protect more than 130 million hectares of lands and waters globally. Primary regional focus includes:
- Pacific Islands
- Amazonia
- North America
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 25 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $80,555,234
- Total revenues: $32,904,805
- Total expenses: $42,466,297
- Total liabilities: $5,600,000
Staffing:
- 44 employees (2024)
Additional Financial Notes: According to its December 2024 tax filing, the organization provided first-class or charter travel to key employees or officers.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,555,234 | $91,187,634 | $105,816,478 |
| Revenue | $32,904,805 | $26,173,466 | $21,750,393 |
| Expenses | $42,466,297 | $43,070,792 | $33,840,873 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,868,655 | $2,666,866 | $1,754,237 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
175 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Amazon Frontlines ($644,000), Conservation Agreement Fund ($500,000), Rsf Social Finance Inc ($410,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMAZON FRONTLINES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS GUARDIANSHIP IN THE AMAZON | $644,000 |
| CONSERVATION AGREEMENT FUND LEWES, DE | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LED CONSERVATION EFFORTS | $500,000 |
| RSF SOCIAL FINANCE INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PRACTICE AND WISDOM | $410,000 |
| LAND IS LIFE INC BROOKLYN, NY | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LED SECURITY | $380,000 |
| ONE REEF WORLDWIDE STEWARDSHIP SANTA CRUZ, CA | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS GUARDIANSHIP PACIFIC ISLANDS | $350,000 |
| BLACKFEET ECO KNOWLEDGE BROWNING, MT | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PRACTICE AND WISDOM | $253,590 |
| IF NOT US THEN WHO TOPANGA, CA | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION AT GLOBAL EVENTS | $240,125 |
| OFFICE OF THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LED GLOBAL POLICY & ADVOCACY | $223,089 |
| DTWO LTD SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| RESOURCES LEGACY FUND (RLF) SACRAMENTO, CA | SUPPORT INDIGENOUS LED CONSERVATION EFFORTS | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER SELIGMANN | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $740,282 |
| JOSEPH WILLIAMS | CHAIR | 2 | — |
| MYRNA CUNNINGHAM KAIN | VICE-CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JUPTA ITOEWAKI | DIRECTOR (FROM 10/24) | 2 | — |
| VICTORIA TAULI CORPUZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNE MARIE BURGOYNE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL CROW | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| YO-YO MA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NEMONTE NENQUIMO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRENDA PIPESTEM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN STARR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NAINOA THOMSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LIAM KOKAUA | DIRECTOR (UNTIL 10/24) | 1 | — |
| TINA-MARIE WILHELM | CHIEF STRATEGY & EXT. AFFAIRS OFF. | 40 | $385,723 |
| CHRISTOPHER FILARDI | CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER | 40 | $356,858 |
| JESSICA SCHROEDER | SR MD, DIR., OPERATIONS | 40 | $276,591 |
| MARGARITA MORA TERAN | SR MD, PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $279,078 |
| DAVID ROTHSCHILD | SR DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $231,722 |
| DAVID COOK | SR DIR., STRATEGY & PLANNING | 40 | $224,559 |
| LAUREN GUZAUSKAS | MD DIR., DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $241,313 |
| JONATHAN DAVIS | SR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $227,078 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nia Tero Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To directly support Indigenous Peoples' guardianship and elevate the role and influence of Indigenous Peoples as essential to ensuring planetary health and habitability. **Vision:** Indigenous Peoples' guardianship is enabled everywhere possible on Earth as part of a just and vibrant future. The foundation's core belief is that the governance systems and cultural wisdom sustained by Indigenous Peoples have significant impact on the health of ecosystems where they live. Funding Indi…
How do I apply for a grant from Nia Tero Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Over $100 million awarded to advance Indigenous Peoples' guardianship since inception • Provided grants to 274 Indigenous Peoples around the world • Total giving: $23,048,675 (2024) • Number of grants: 39 (2023) • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $10,000 to $6,622,390 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Where does Nia Tero Foundation make grants?
The foundation's support helps protect more than 130 million hectares of lands and waters globally. Primary regional focus includes: • Pacific Islands • Amazonia • North America
What size grants does Nia Tero Foundation award?
In 2024, Nia Tero Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $159K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Nia Tero Foundation's EIN?
Nia Tero Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1949563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Nia Tero Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nia Tero Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.